Shotlist
Marty, a "good boy," experiments with marijuana and experiences "profound mental and emotional disturbances." As in all anti-drug films of this vintage, marijuana leads straight to "H," and Marty's decline continues until he is busted, rehabbed and reformed.
Drug Addiction's stilted view of the urban drug culture and unrealistic portrayals of stoned slackers make it entertaining viewing today. It belongs to that little-known "second wave" of anti-drug films, the postwar scare stories about middle-class kids overcome by junkiedom. What this wave of films reveals is that drugs were an issue for white adolescents long before the psychedelic Sixties, and that the official response to the threat expressed a general, not specifically targeted paranoia.
Ken Smith sez: This film chronicles the decline and fall of "Marty" (see Are You Ready For Marriage?), a "good boy" who becomes a junkie. Marty's experimentation begins with marijuana, which produces "profound mental and emotional disturbances." Marty then goes straight to "H," which he buys from Louie, the local dealer (who keeps his stash in a lamp base). Marty is caught, sent to a drug rehab center (where he cuts down dead corn stalks and plays checkers), and reforms. The scene where Marty and some of his stoned friends drink out of broken Pepsi bottles is memorable. As in all drug films, the marijuana sequences are the most entertaining. "Thoughtless curiosity can lead to a lifetime of pain and torment!" The street pushers in this film wear turtlenecks.
This film begins with EXCELLENT shot of teens at a drive-in, sitting in convertible. Also, shot of teens stealing camera
"the very thoughtlessness of youth" leads to it
blacks visible
"wherever there is a troubled personality, no matter how hidden or unrecognized, there may be a seed bed for drug addiction"
"started by a friend. drug addiction is contageous"
"he was determined to be one of the gang if it killed him"
"befogged brain...a clever way to open pop bottles"
(pepsi PHOTO 7:32)
"will it make me sick like the reefers?" "I dare ya!"
(mainlining PHOTO 9:05)
Duke: "Mainline it. Like I'm doin'! The stuff costs too much to waste it."
Marty: "I don't wanna punch myself fulla holes like that."
(stealing from mom PHOTO 11:59)
"plagued by sudden attacks of vomiting and of diarrhea"
"You wouldn't help your mother out of a rat hole." "Don't be a square. You ain't got no chance. You're just a junkie to everybody around here."
John Galvarro -- "Marty Demalone" Beulah Brandon -- "Mrs Demalone"
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Reviews
Subject: I found this one in one of my encrypted boxes
Subject: Response to kfinn- Public Domain?
If you look at the main page from where you select your Prelinger Archive title, scroll down and on the left you will see a box titled "Rights". There you will see that these are completely free to use in whatever way you wish. Hope this helps.
oblongdot
Subject: Public Domain?
http://www.facebook.com/#!/KevinMartinFinnJr
Kevin
Subject: A great campy film
Subject: Never never Land
I might also add that,like most anti drug messages past and present, the film leaves out two of the most commonly used and potentially dangerous drugs, namely alcohol and tobacco. Also, worthy of mention , note the solutions to the drug problem proposed in the film, namely reporting addicts to the police, tougher drug prohibition laws, tougher enforcement, etc. have all been tried over the 50 years passed since the film has been made and have not put a dent in the drug trade or drug useage.
Otherwise, the film is a really tacky, campy, bizzare and so retro which makes it interesting. If it were a full length movie it would be on a par with "Reefer Madness" and/or "Marijuana-The Devils Weed". It's a great film if you enjoy tacky retro drug films.
Subject: The Sordid Past of Sue's Fiance
Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: *****. Weirdness: ****. Historical Interest: ****. Overall Rating: *****.
Subject: Drug Addiction
Subject: OLD BUT EFFECTIVE
Anyhow, I thought the movie was funny and I guess during the 50's it would scare our youth not even to try marijuana...Because the end result is becoming a hard-core heroin addict. I loved the corny scenes. But, if I was growing up in the 50's it might have stopped me from using heroin. Being I grew up in a different generation, a movie like that would be useless. It was still fun to watch though.
Subject: Any one know of other sites like this?!
Any ways, if any one knows where I can acquire similar films or any similar sites like the prelinger archives, please write me at
schuthj@yahoo.com !
I would greatly appreciate it. These films have a wonderful mixture of perversion and wholesomeness that is just marvelous.`
Subject: Flawed, funny, but sadly true
When talking about slippery slope arguments in my classes, I use the drug films of this era as an example. My teachers in the 1960s showed similar films in PE class. Smoke one joint and WHAM! you are addicted to heroin.
I'll admit that I laughed at the images. The drug pushers who stand in doorways wearing trenchcoats and dark glasses. The drug kingpin who keeps his stash inside a lamp on his desk (The cops will never find it in there!). And the scene with boys hopped up on drugs stealing a case of Pepsi, smashing the bottles against a wall, and then laughing as they cut their mouths on broken glass was just too bizzare.
With all of its flaws, though, the story contained a kernel of truth. When my son was 16, his mother and I placed him in a drug rehab center. His drugs of choice were marijuana and alcohol. He exhibited the same behaviors we see in Marty: the moodiness, the evasiveness, the slackers and losers for friends, the petty theft, the poor grades. We took action before there were any brushes with law enforcement.
In the film, the judge sends poor Marty off to a state-supported drug rehab program. How many of those exist today? I'll bet not many. And the state rehab facilities that do exist are vastly underfunded. My wife and I were fortunate that our health insurance covered the cost of our son's treatment in a private facility.
The film is heavy-handed in its delivery. It contains fallacious arguments: the slippery slope and the appeal to fear. My students know that not everyone who smokes marijuana will become instantly addicted to heroin. But most of them have stories about a friend who is addicted to hard drugs, someone who started out by smoking a just a little weed.
Love to all,
Sarcasticus
Subject: Meanwhile. in Bobbi-Sox Land..
I've seen this film before on the big screen, and it's GREAT to see it again, A MUST SEE on this site!